these terms by turns according to the angle from which I hap-
pened to be writing. Since this may add to any descriptive
quality the book may have, it has been agreed that whichever
phrase my pen adopted shall be allowed to remain. There is no
partisan implication. An attempt has been made to give place
names in the language of the prevailing nationality at the date
in question with any alternative name in brackets at the first
time of mention; in any case of doubt readers are asked to
consult the index. In the interests of speedy printing some of
the intricacies of Polish orthography have been omitted, for
instance the crossed 1. Full particulars about the books and
periodicals consulted are given in the bibliography which
elucidates the abbreviations used in the footnotes.

The main writing of the book was begun late in the autumn
of 1954 and finished in the late spring of 1955, so that it really
only covers the situation at the end of 1954. In order to round
off the picture some later references have deliberately been
made.

I wish to thank The Times for permission to incorporate much
of an article contributed by me to The Times Literary Supplement.
As for the others to whom I owe thanks, whether I think of
Germans, Poles, Czechs or others, the full list would be tediously
long. Here I would wish only to express my gratitude to the
different departments of Chatham House for their help, and
most of all to the Press Library for its indefatigable support.

ELIZABETH WISKEMANN

August 1955

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